HISTORY AND MUSEUMS DIVISION HEADQUARTERS, U. S. MARINE CORPS WASHINGTON, D. C. Printed 1969 Reprinted 1977 Oblique aerial photograph of the Khe Sanh Combat Base (United Press International Photo by Kyoichi Sawada) Library of Congress Card No. 75-603604 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 Stock No. 008-065-00114-5...

It is with pleasure that the Marine Corps presents this account of the Battle for Khe Sanh which stands as one of the most crucial and bitterly contested struggles in the Vietnam War. Throughout the existence of our Corps, thousands of men have been called upon to further the cause of freedom on scores of battlefields around the globe. At Khe Sanh, a new generation of Marines, aided by their gallant U. S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and South Vietnamese counterparts, admirably upheld this tradition a

As the commander of the United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, during the battle of Khe Sanh, I welcome publication by the U. S. Marine Corps of this historical study. The Marines' heroic defense of the Khe Sanh area against numerically superior North Vietnamese forces stands out among the many battles fought to defend the Republic of Vietnam against Communist aggression. The enemy's primary objective of his 1968 TET Offensive was to seize power in South Vietnam by creating a genera

In the extreme northwestern corner of South Vietnam there stands a monument to the free world. Unlike those which commemorate the victories of past wars, this one was not built on marble or bronze but the sacrifices of men who fought and died at a remote outpost to halt the spread of Communism. This is the story of those men--the defenders of Khe Sanh--and the epic 77-day struggle which not only denied the North Vietnamese Army a much needed victory but reaffirmed to the world the intention of t

"Attention to Colors." The order having been given, Captain William H. Dabney, a product of the Virginia Military Institute, snapped to attention, faced the jerry-rigged flag-pole, and saluted, as did every other man in Company I, 3d Battalion, 26th Marines. The ceremony might well have been at any one of a hundred military installations around the world except for a few glaring irregularities. The parade ground was a battle-scarred hilltop to the west of Khe Sanh and the men in the formation st

When the Communists launched their TET Offensive on 30 January, they struck in force almost everywhere in South Vietnam except Khe Sanh. Their prime targets were not military installations but the major population centers--36 provincial capitals, 64 district capitals, and 5 autonomous cities. The leaders in Hanoi were apparently becoming dissatisfied with their attempts to win in the South by a protracted war of attrition and decided on one massive stroke to tip the scales in their favor. Conseq

The amount of air and artillery support that the 26th Marines received during the defense of Khe Sanh was enormous. Few regiments ever had such an overwhelming amount of firepower at their disposal. The reason was that General Westmoreland gave SCOTLAND priority over all other operations in Vietnam. The well-publicized struggle had long since become more than just another battle; it was a symbol of Allied determination to hold the line in Vietnam. The stubborn resistance of the 26th Marines had

AAR After Action Report ABCCC Airborne Command and Control Center A-4 Skyhawk A single-seat, lightweight, jet attack bomber in service with Navy and Marine Corps squadrons. Built by Douglas. AN/PRC-25 U. S.-built, short-range, portable, frequency-modulated radio set used to provide two-way communication in the 30 megacycle to 75.95 megacycle band. AN/TPQ-10 U. S.-built, ground-based radar system used to guide aircraft on bombing missions. A-1 Skyraider U. S.-built, prop-driven, attack aircraft b

Aug      U. S. Army Special Forces establish CIDG camp at Khe Sanh. Apr 1/1 sweeps Khe Sanh plateau during Operation VIRGINIA. Oct 1/3 occupies KSCB; CIDG displaces to Lang Vei. Feb 1/3 replaced by single company, E/2/9. 15 Mar Company B, 1/9, replaces E/2/9 as resident defense company. 20 Apr Combat assets at KSCB pass to operational control of Col Lanigan's 3d Marines which commences Operation PRAIRIE IV. 24 Apr B/1/9 patrol engages large enemy force north of Hill 861 and prematurely triggers

A.  3D MARINES (-) (REIN) 24APR-13MAY67 HEADQUARTERS COMPANY 24APR-13MAY67 2D BATTALION (REIN) 26APR-13MAY67 HEADQUARTERS AND SERVICE COMPANY(-)(REIN) DET, HQBN, 3D MARDIV DET, HQCO, 3D MAR DET, B BTRY (REIN), 1ST BN, 12TH MAR DET, 15TH DENTAL CO 2D CLEARING PLT (REIN), CO B, 3D MED BN 1ST PLT (-) (REIN), CO A, 3D ENGR BN 1ST PLT (REIN), CO C, 3D MT BN 1ST PLT (-) (REIN), CO C, 3D SP BN DET, LSU, FLC COMPANY E (REIN) 1ST SEC, 81MM MORTAR PLT FAC TEAM DET, MED PLT DET, INTELLIGENCE SEC DET, B BTR

Commanding Officer Col John P. Lanigan (24Apr67-13May67) Executive Officer LtCol Jack Westerman (24Apr67-13May67) S-1 WO Charles M. Christensen (24Apr67-13May67) S-2 Capt Adolfo Sgambelluri (24Apr67-7May67) Capt James D. McGowan (8May67-13May67) S-3 Maj Floyd A. Karker (24Apr67-13May67) S-4 Maj Howard L. Long (24Apr67-13May67) Communications Officer Capt Curtis G. Arnold (24Apr67-1May67) Capt George W. Brooks (2May67-13May67) Commanding Officer LtCol Earl R. DeLong (24Apr67-13May67) Executive Of

Commanding Officer Col David E. Lownds (12Aug67-1Apr68) Executive Officer LtCol Louis A. Rann (28Sep67-1Apr68) S-1 1stLt Robert J. Mariz (29Jan68-29Jan68)(KIA) Capt Arnold R. Nelson (30Jan68-8Feb68) Capt Anthony V. Latorre, Jr. (9Feb68-1Apr68) S-2 Capt Harper L. Bohr, Jr. (1Aug67-7Feb68) Maj Jerry E. Hudson (8Feb68-17Mar68) Capt Thorvald P. E. Holm (18Mar68-1Apr68) S-3 Maj Wayne M. Wills (1Aug67-22Jan68) LtCol Edward J. A. Castagna (23Jan68-1Apr68) S-4 Maj Aubrey L. Lumpkin (17Mar68-1Apr68) Comm